Filler for egg cartons and the like



y 1933- BENOIT FILLER FOR EGG CARTONS AND THE LIKE Filed April 18, 1930Patented July 25, 1933 I r V V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I I I LEONBENoi'r, or CHICAGQ; rrinrnors A I "FILLER non nee cannons AND we ilms,A pplication filed April 18, 193p. Serial no. 445,276.

r This invention relates to a filler construe continues slantingly todefine in areaof tion' such as is suited for the reception ofmaximum'widthat-the inner end of the eggs andother like commoditieswhich reslot. quire separation in individual cells or com Associatedwith a plurality of cross walls v pa'rtments. The present improvementsare soformed are the partitions having like directed toward a fillerwhich may be 001- formations in each instance. As shown, lapsed with aminimum of interference be-- each partition is of'a vertical heightcontween its intersecting walls, and toward siderably less than that ofthe cross walls so means by which the partitions and/or cross that thelatter alone extend to the 'upper 10 walls forming the filler may beshifted, as plane of the filler. Each partition is prorequired, toaccommodate eggs or other arvided with opposite pairs of slots15 and 16ticles varying slightly in size. extending inwardly from its upper andAn exemplification of my invention is set lower edges, respectively, theformer having forth in the accompanying drawing whereflaring entrances17,-as shown. The lower 15 in slots are considerablywider than the comFigure 1 is a view in perspective of apanion upper slots for a purposewhich will filler set upready for the reception of eggs presentlyappear.

or other desired contents; Y In the assembly of the partitions with theFig. 2 is atransverse section through the cross walls the former are-moved past the 2 filler; Y shoulders 10 and elbows 11 to the positionF'g; 3 is a fragmentary elevation of one shown in Fig. 2, where thelower edges of side of the filler; the partitions; are broughtintosubstantially Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the filler, the" sameplane as the corresponding edges as it appears when collapsed; and ofthe cross walls. In executing these move 25 Fig. 5 is a view in plan ofthe filler in ments the shoulders 10 will be required to collapsedcondition. yield somewhat in order that the artitions The present filleris built up of a series of and cross walls may arrive at the nalposilongitudinal partitions A in the form of tions noted, but thereafterthe several inter.- strips in intersection with transverse cross sectingwalls of the filler will be retained 30 walls B each in the form of acard. The against disassembly by reason of the lock number andarrangement of such partitions afforded by the shoulders which co-actwith and cross walls is determined according to the partitions toprevent reverse movement the size and capacity of the filler to be prosof the latter. In the final position shown in duced thereby. Each of thecross walls may Figs. 2 and 3, the partitions may stand up- 35 have oneor more ventilating windows 6, right against the vertical edges of theslots preferably in its upper region, thereby pro- 7, or slant to oneside adjacent the inclined viding for the circulation of air through alledges 12 of these slots. By providing four the cells or compartments ofthe completed such partitions arranged in pairs, as shown, structure.two troughs extending lengthwise of the 40 Each of the cross walls isformed with a filler are produced. The cross walls may series of slots 7extended inwardly from one also have capacity for shifting angularlyedge, the number of such slots correspondwithin the partition slots tothe extent that ing with the longitudinal partitions which it ispermitted by the width thereof. Such I are used. As shown, four suchslots are an adjustment from the normal vertical po-' 45 provided, eachproceeding inwardly from sition is desirable in order to accommodate thebottom edge 8 of the cross wall, with a eggs or articles of varyingsize. flaring entrance 9 adjacent which is a shoul- A filler of the kinddescribed may, on der 10 on one side and, at a higher point occasion, hecollapsed to the positions indiupon the opposite side, an elbow 11.Becated in Figs. 4 and 5. In executing this 50 yond the elbow theproximate slot side 12 movement the cross walls are first straightenedup against the vertical edges of the slots 7 following which thecomponents of the filler may be swung relative to each other into astate of collapse so as to occupy a minimum of space. In arriving atthis position, the shoulders 10, which are necessarily weak because oftheir small size and the displacement they are subjected to whenassembly of the partitions takes place, will swing around into the spaceafforded by the widened slots 16. This is of advantage be causeotherwise the shoulders would be required to bend laterally whenstriking against the partitions in this collapsed position.

By the construction herein described, I have provided a filler which maybe advantageously produced and assembled, and, when placed in use, willhave capacity for such adjustments as are required forthe accommodationof articlesvarying in size and contour. In addition, the construction isone which securely holds the components of the filler together prior toits being set up for use, and without damage or injuryto the operativeparts thereof. Such a filler may be used independently of anysurrounding carton, or, if preferred, may be placed within acarton,wrapper, or other container for convenience and further protectioninhandling and use.

I claim: 1. A filler in which is comprised aseries of cross walls inlntersectlon with a series fof partitions, the slots of the cross wallsj slanting position, the partitions having slots wherein the cross wallsare engaged, such slots being of uniformly greater width than thethickness of the cross walls to permit of angular movement of the crosswalls whereby to accommodate articles of varying size in the cellsprovided by the intersecting walls and partitions.

2. A filler in which is comprised a plurality of slotted cross walls inintersection with a plurality of slotted partitions, there being lockingmeans extended into the slots of the cross walls and widened spacesadjacent thereto in the slots of the partitions, the slots of the crosswalls being further provided with opposite edges one of which isvertical and the other of which is slanting tonpermit the cross wallsengagedtherein to assumevertical or slanting positions, as desired,and'the widened slots of the partitions being of materially greaterwidth than the thickness of the cross walls to permit angularmovement-of the cross walls therein, the locking means extending acrossthe slots of the cross walls being brought into engagement with .thewidened portions of the slots of the partitions when the cross walls areshifted angularly, and such locking means being receivable within suchwidened portions without interference with the partitions when thecross-walls and partitions are swung upon each other into a condition ofcollapse.

1 3. A filler comprising two series of walls in intersecting relation,one-series of walls having means complementary to and coacting wlthmeans in the other series of walls, the means of each series of wallsbeing configured to permit independent I swinging movement of the wallsof each series through a limited distanceinto and out'of verticalposition. K

LEON BENOIT.

